Simi workers, residents question proposed cuts

Detective William Daniels wants the Simi Valley City Council to consider its $144 million in reserves before cutting city positions. Gerald Smith doesn't want the budget cuts to be driven by employee unions and Sigrid Bremer wants to make sure she can continue riding the "D" bus.

Simi workers and residents came out Wednesday night to talk about the preliminary 2009-10 budget and the ways the city is considering sewing up the $4.9 million shortfall — whittled down from an earlier $8.2 million.

The City Council is expected to balance the city's $56 million budget in Monday's meeting.

In the past few months, city departments were asked to draw up a plan for cutting their budgets by 10 percent. The departments — including police, environmental services, community services, transit and sanitation — responded by providing a list of services and positions that could be trimmed.

Among them is about 50 city positions, both filled and vacant, as well as services like eliminating transit services.

The D bus route, if eliminated, would save about $294,000.

"There are a lot of people here in Simi Valley that use the D to get to the hospital or for medical treatment," Bremer said. "Please keep the D bus going."

Frank Catania, deputy city manager, led the discussion, and city staff from the various departments were there to listen to concerns.

In addition to the positions, there are several hundred programs and services that could be cut or reduced. They total about $7.4 million of the general fund and are listed in the "reverse priorities" section of the preliminary budget.

Catania said not all of the reductions listed over four pages would be implemented.

The Police Department's plan included $2.9 million in cuts with about 20 positions on the chopping block, more than any other department. Positions that could be cut range from a motor officer and lieutenant positions to a secretary and crime analyst positions.

Daniels is also president of the Simi Valley Police Association and said the city has been too prudent in maintaining a high standard of reserves funds, He suggested the council look at reserves this one time to fill in the gap.

"Now there is somewhat of an expectation for the employees to make up the shortfall," Daniels said.

Catania said the city can only use a small portion of the reserves for general fund use.

Another resident, Bill Martin, said he doesn't want to lose any police.

"I am concerned about the officers that might have to step back," Martin said.

Gerald Smith, a former City Council candidate, thinks city employees should be treated more like private sector employees, who are filling up unemployment lines faster than their government counterparts.

Another man said "the city should be a little harder with the unions."

Catania said the city manager has asked the various employee unions what kind of concessions — from 1 percent to 5 percent — they would be willing to part with.

"That is all being negotiated, and will be reconciled on Monday night," Catania said.

He said every service or position on the "reverse priorities" list is important to that department — to help them keep doing their jobs.

"There really is no fat there," Catania said.

The City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road.